The Giants are like the jackpot winner who tried to play the lottery again.
One year after a smart and patient approach to the second-tier of free agency led to the signings of defensive cornerstones James Bradberry, Logan Ryan and Blake Martinez for the cumulative maximum-value sum of $80 million, the Giants splurged on Kenny Golladay, Adoree’ Jackson and Kyle Rudolph at the cost of $123 million. They re-signed Leonard Williams for another $63 million.
The spending spree raised fan-base expectations that the Giants were all-in for a return to the playoffs — inconsistent with the no-shortcuts foundational-rebuild messaging from head coach Joe Judge now that another season is lost — and hasn’t produced worthy returns for on-the-hot-seat general manager Dave Gettleman.
“It’s important when you bring in free agents that you’re not playing fantasy football,” said Judge, who met face-to-face with Golladay, Jackson and Rudolph before they signed. “You’re bringing in the right kind of guys to your building. I can watch the tape, I understand they’re all accomplished players, but character-wise they have to fit what we’re looking for. These guys work hard for their teammates.”
To make matters worse, writing those fat checks required cutting right guard Kevin Zeitler for salary-cap savings. The plan to turn to youngsters and rely on coaching improvements blew up, and the weakened offensive line has complicated evaluations of Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Meanwhile Zeitler has allowed zero sacks and zero quarterback hits on 558 pass-blocking snaps — unmatched numbers across the league — for the Ravens, per CBS Sports.
Golladay has 28 catches for 424 yards and no touchdowns. The full value of his contract (four years, $72 million) was double any other free-agent wide receiver other than the Jets’ Corey Davis (three years, $37.5 million) in a receiver market that will set a buyer-beware tone for 2022.
None of the seven receivers who signed free-agent contracts worth at least $8 million per year have reached 500 receiving yards this season. Davis, who is on injured reserve, leads the way (492) but soon should be passed by Golladay.
“There’s been a heightened focus of making sure that he’s been a focal point of the offense in recent weeks,” Judge said. “He’s going to be a guy that’s going to make a lot of contested catches, and we’ve got to make sure we keep feeding him the ball.”
Where Golladay, who has four catches of 20-plus yards but none of at least 40, was supposed to open up the box for Barkley by creating a downfield threat, Rudolph was supposed to provide the missing red-zone element. The Giants rank No. 30 in the NFL with 21 offensive touchdowns, including one for Rudolph among his 21 catches for 231 yards.
Rudolph’s contract (two years, $12 million) found a should-be sweet spot as the fourth-highest among tight ends, but the Giants mistakenly did not alter the terms of the agreement once it was discovered that he needed surgery to correct an old foot injury. Rudolph predictably labored on catch-and-runs — making repeat tight-end screens a curious play call — until a career-long 60-yarder this week.
Jackson was supposed to be the missing piece for a top-10 defense that would be able to play more press man-to-man coverage without being forced to rotate three fringe NFL players as starting cornerbacks opposite Bradberry. Jackson ($39 million), the Jaguars’ Shaq Griffin ($40 million) and Washington’s William Jackson ($40.5 million) topped free agency with similar three-year deals.
NFL sources thought Jackson was an “overpay” at the time given that he was a Titans’ cap casualty, but he is the league’s No. 19-ranked cornerback — providing steady coverage, not enough playmaking — by Pro Football Focus.
The traditionally durable Williams — whose $21 million-per-year salary ranks fourth among all defensive tackles — has 5.5 sacks after 11 last season, but is expected to miss the first game of his career this week. The trio of Golladay, Rudolph and Jackson have combined to miss six games with injuries after missing a combined 24 last season, which fulfills Gettleman’s long-standing (but ignored) belief that “hurt guys get hurt.”
“I’m very pleased on all three of those guys in terms of how they’re pushing forward and working to make contributions,” Judge said. “Now, all three have dealt with health issues this year that have set them back a good bit.”
It shouldn’t be a surprise that annual free-agency dips don’t work. The Giants hit the jackpot to return to the playoffs in 2016, but the three contracts given to Damon Harrison, Janoris Jenkins and Olivier Vernon totaling $193 million all turned into cap anchors by the end. When the Giants tried again in 2018, a disaster of misjudgments caused a multiyear setback, admitted by owner John Mara.
Let it be a reminder headed into 2022.
“Ultimately, to me, you build a team through the draft,” Judge said. “That’s the way to truly build and sustain a program. However, in free agency you have to be able to add players at need positions who can come in and help progress the program. But they’ve got to fit what you’re looking for culture and character-wise on top of just schematically and football ability.”